Understanding Sentence Improvement and Vocabulary Choices

The question asks us to select the option that best improves the underlined part of the sentence: “One’s family plays a very major role to continue the trends and age-old traditions.” We need to find a phrase that is more precise, grammatically sound, and fits the context of a family's influence on traditions and trends.

Analyzing the Original Sentence

The original sentence uses the phrase “very major role to continue the trends and age-old traditions.”

• “Very major” is somewhat redundant; “major” already implies something significant.
• “To continue the trends and age-old traditions” is a bit wordy and could be more impactful. The word “continue” is acceptable, but perhaps a word implying persistence or lasting through time would be better, especially with “age-old traditions.”

Evaluating the Options for Sentence Improvement

Let's look at each option provided and see how it changes the meaning and structure of the sentence.

• Option 1: passive role in making the trends

  Replacing the underlined part with “passive role in making the trends” changes the meaning significantly. A “passive role” is the opposite of a “major role.” Also, “making the trends” is different from “continuing the trends and age-old traditions.” This option does not fit the intended meaning.

• Option 2: futile part in making trends

  “Futile” means ineffective or useless. Saying a family plays a “futile part” contradicts the idea of them playing a “major role.” Like option 1, “making trends” also changes the context from continuing traditions. This option is incorrect.

• Option 3: significant role in enduring the trends

  Let's examine this option closely:

  • “Significant role” is an excellent and more concise replacement for “very major role.” “Significant” means important or noteworthy, which fits the context of a major influence.
  • “In enduring the trends”: “Enduring” means lasting over time or persisting. This word choice works well with both “trends” (implying they persist or last) and particularly with “age-old traditions” (which are inherently enduring). While the option only mentions “trends,” in the context of the original sentence (“trends and age-old traditions”), “enduring” is a strong verb that applies to both. The structure “plays a role in enduring...” is grammatically sound.

  This option improves the sentence by using stronger vocabulary (“significant” instead of “very major”) and a more fitting verb (“enduring”) for the concept of traditions and trends lasting over time. The phrase “significant role in enduring the trends” provides a clear and concise improvement.

• Option 4: docile part in enduring trends

  “Docile” means compliant, easily managed, or submissive. Describing a family's role in traditions as “docile” does not make sense in this context. While “enduring trends” is part of the phrase, the word “docile” makes this option incorrect.

Conclusion on Sentence Improvement

Comparing the options, Option 3 provides the most appropriate and effective improvement to the underlined part of the sentence. It replaces the slightly redundant "very major role" with the clear and strong "significant role" and uses "enduring" which fits the idea of traditions and trends persisting.

The improved sentence would be: “One’s family plays a significant role in enduring the trends and age-old traditions.”

Revision Table: Comparing Options

Additional Information: Vocabulary for Describing Roles

When describing the influence or part someone or something plays, various words can be used depending on the degree and nature of that influence:

• Significant: Important, noteworthy, having a strong effect.
• Major: Of great importance or influence.
• Minor: Of lesser importance or influence.
• Crucial: Extremely important, necessary for success.
• Pivotal: Central and important, something on which success depends.
• Instrumental: Serving as a means of doing something, playing a key part.
• Passive: Accepting or allowing what happens without active response or resistance.
• Active: Involved in doing something; participating or acting.
• Futile: Incapable of producing any useful result; pointless.
• Docile: Ready to accept control or instruction; submissive.

Choosing the right word is essential for clear and effective communication in sentence improvement questions.